Big stage for NB girls’ track

Ninth-grader Rhianna Rinke sets a school record while winning the 1600-meter run at True Team state on Saturday.Photo by Kat Ladwig

The North Branch girls track team competed at the True Team state meet for the second year in a row on Saturday in Stillwater.

The Vikings placed ninth at the elite meet, but came away with some North Branch highlights.

Sophomore Mikayla Johnson won the pole vault by clearing 10-0, and took ninth in the 100-meter dash. Ninth-grader Katie Burnside also cleared 10-0 to earn second place in the pole vault on the day.

Ninth-grader Rhianna Rinke had a standout day for the Vikings. She won the 1600-meter run with a school record time of 5:07, then placed second in the 800-meter run and was part of the 4×400-meter dash team of sophomore Cassie Kunshier, junior Maddy Kunshier and senior Haley Huset. The relay squad won with a season-best time of 4:07.26.

Cassie Kunshier ran a season best, 27.00, in the 200-meter dash, while Maddy Kunshier earned a season best, 59.46, in the 400-meter dash.

Huset placed ninth in the 400-meter dash and cleared 4-8 in the high jump.

Head coach Norm Nagel said the girls performed well, and that the meet was a good warm-up for the Mississippi 8 Conference meet as well as sections.

“Very pleased on how the girls performed,” Nagel said. “It is an honor to be their coach and to work with these young ladies. Although we took last, the girls competed hard. It is a great experience for our younger athletes to complete in such a large stage.”

The Vikings competed at the conference championship meet at Buffalo on Tuesday, while the section meet takes place on Wednesday, May 28, at Zimmerman.